Pressure-operated circuit breaker



- 1,616,317 J. N. HANNA PRESSURE OPERATED CIRCUIT BREAKER Feb. 1., 1927.

Filed Dec. 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Shet 1 NI EN 70/? (JOHN N HHNNA A TTORIVEVS .--'Feb 1 19 7. 2 J. N. HANNA PRESSURE OPERATED CIRCUIT BREAKER 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4

l u u a I INVENTOR Jomv Nl-Iamva WITNESSES ATTORNEYS A ed to rest. This cover casing is preferably Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN N. HANNA, OF ORDWAY, COLORADO.

- 1UN1TED STATES I PRESSURE-OIERATED CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application filed December 4, 1923. Serial No. 678,505.

This invention relates to an automatic current regulator for batteries. An object of the invention is to provide a simple, eflicient, durable and compact apparatus which can be used in'conn'ection with storage batteries, especially on. an automobile, to control curtent supplied to said batteries by the charging dynamo for the purpose of cutting oft said'current to the batteries when the condition ofthe batteries has reached a definite point.

Another object concerns the provision of means whereby when such a cut off of the current to the batteries'has been efiected a signal indicating this condition will be operated to call the attention of the operator to this condition of the system.

A further object concerns the provision of an apparatus which can be readily attached to any type offbattery system with a minimum requirement for alteration of the parts Figure '1 1s a vertical section taken on the of the system andfone which can be readily applied to the :tra'me of anyvehicle.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, of which line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

I Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line -33 of Fig. 1,.showing the switch elements 111 their closed position;

' Fig. 4-is a. similar section showing the switch elements in their'open 'position;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and 7 V Fig. '6 is a" circuit diagram of the apparatus.

I The form of the invention shown in the drawings is a preferred form, although it is p understood. that modifications in the con- 'struct on and arrangement of the parts and "in the character of the materials used may 1 be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention asset forth in the "appen d c a The invention includes a casing 1, of any suitable material, 0 en at the top and providedwith a perip eral flange 2 on which the lower edge of the cover casing 3 is adaptprovijded with a window such as 4.- through socket 6 w ich s m unted on an n ul t thereof. This base 7 is provided with a central aperture through which a stem 8 is adapted to project. To the lower end of this stem 8 a disc- 9 of suitable material, preferably rigid material such as metal, is fastened. This disc 9 bears against the upper surface of a flexible envelope or casing 10 which is contained within the casing 1 beneath the base 7 and is adapted to receive gas, whereby in said reception the envelope is expanded to raise the stem 8. The lower portion of this envelope 10 is provided with an aperture through which a bushing 11 passes, and the edges of this aperture in the envelope are suitably clamped between the flange 12 on the bushing and the bottom of the casing 1 in any suitable manner. This bushing is connected to a nipple or stem 13 and both are provided with aligning apertures which form a passage 14. To the lower end of the nipple 13 a flexible member, such as a length of tubing, 15 may be connected, and this tubing is connected to one or more of the caps such as 16 on the battery, which are suitably provided with apertures or hollow stems 17 so that the gas formed within the batteries will pass through the tubing 15 into the envelope 10 when generated.

In the operation of the device as thus far described, therefore, when the battery is be ing charged from a dynamo and thecondition of the battery charged reaches a stage where gas commences to be given off vfrom the battery, this gas will form at the top and pass through the tubing 15 and tend to expand the envelope 10 and raise the stem. Suitable electric switching apparatus associated with the operating end of the stem above the base 7 will cause a variation in the field circuit of: the dynamo when the proper amount of pressure has been created within the envelope 10.

In Fig. 6, which is a diagrammatic rep resentation of the circuit involved, 18 is the battery; 19 is a diagrammatic representation of the generator; and 20 represents diagrammatically the circuit controlling device. It will'be noted that wire 21 connects the battery to a ground; wire 22 connects the other end of the battery to the dynamo ar mature; wire 23 connects the dynamo to the ground; wire 24 connects the switch to the ground. It will also be noted that wires 25 and 26 connect opposite sides of the switch to the lamp 5; wire 23 connects the switch to the hold windings of the generator. The other end of these windings is grounded through wire 2 1 Normally when the switch is closed the field current is normal, but when the switch is open the lamp is put in circuit with the field winding so as to be illuminated to give the proper signal, as well as to reduce the amount of lield current and thus the main current to the battery.

l'Vith respect to the detailed construction of the switching apparatus, it will be noted that a bracket member 2'? is mounted on the base in alignment with the aperture through which the stem 8 passes and is proyided with apertured flange portions which act as bearings for the stem 8. It will also be noted that a carriage 28 is mounted on the stem 8 above the base 7 and is provided with a forwardly extending portion having a lip 29 and a rearwardly extending arm 30. The arm 30 rides in a slot formed in a bracket plate 31 so that the carriage can move up and down and will be prevented thereby from lateral movement. In this respect the stem also will. be prevented from having any rotative tendency. The carriage 28 is provided with a, small adjustmenflplate 32 having a plurality of holes therein into any one of which one end of a spring 33 may be fastened. The other end of this spring is connected to a switch member 34. This switch member 34 is in the form of an L-shaped wire one end of which, as previously mentioned, is connected to the spring33 and'the other end of which, being open, is journaled in the upper ends of a bracket member 35 (see especially Fig. 2). I

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, the line 01" pull of the spring is very nearly parallel to the line of extension of the switch mem ber 34, so that in the position shown in Fi 3 the switch'is closed and the spring tends to hold this member closed; whereas, in Fig. l: the switch member has been moved upwardly and the spring in this position tends to hold it in its upward open position. In

other words, as the switch member is moved positively by the engagement of its outer end by the lip 29 on the carriage 28, there is a quick snapping action of the switch lue to the pull of the spring. This snapping action takes place both in the opening and the closing of the switch member.

In order to prevent too much of an upward movement of the switch member, I iasten also to the bracket 35 a stop member 36 which at its outer end is bent laterally to lie'in the path of upward movement the switch element 34. The switch element 34 is provided with a contact piece 37, and this contact piece in the closed position of the switch element 34. is adapted to rest on a horizontal flange portion 38 of a switch plate 39 which is mounted on the base 7 and connected to the wire 24. Also mechanically and electrically connected to the switch plate isa spring member l0 which extends upwardly alongside of the switch plate 39, the upper end of the spring member being normally adapted to lie closely adjacent the outer end of the flange 38. The extreme upper end ll of this spring plate is curved outwardly. Whenever the switch element 34 descends to contact with the switch plate 39 it strikes the curved part of the plate 41 to move in outwardly away from contact with the flange 38. However, when the switch member 3 moves upwardly and breaks contact with the flange 38 it, nevertheless, maintains contact with the upper end of the spring plate 10, so that in this respect the production of a heavy are on the breaking of the circuit is prevented, because the break between the switch member 34- and the upper end of the spring plate 40 is made quickly and without much surface of contact so that the are cannot be veryheavy. It will be noted, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, that the lower end of the bracket is connected to the wire 23 and that the bracket 35 and the switch plate 39 are respectively connected to wires 25 and 26 (see Fig. 2).

r The casing 1 is provided with a bracket 42 whereby it may be fastened to any suitable part of an automobile frame. referably, the casing is adapted to be disposed in the approximate vicinity of the instrument board of the automobile so that whenever the switch is open the lamp 5, being illuminated, can be observed by the operator. Of course, it isobvious that the light can be removed trom the casing and placed right on the instrument board whereby its illumination can be observed, whereas the casing itself can be mounted in some other part of the car for purposes of convenience.

It will be observed, therefore, as the gas terms in the battery, stem 8 is moved upwardly to open the switch, and that this opening occurs in a quick and positive manner withoutthe liability of any dangerous arcs occurring and that instantly upon opening the switch a signal is illuminated to indicate this condition. It is, furthermore, to be noted that after the switch has been opened it. is held open positively by the action of the spring until the carriage has moved down far enough to bring the line ol. action of the spring below the line of the switch element, whereupon the switch element is moved to close the switch again in an equally quick and positive manner.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the nipple 13 is provided with a needle valve construction of any suitable type, such as 43, so that the escape of gas from the diaphragm can be permitted to a desired degree. Therefore,

' whenever the switch has been opened the gas 'in which event this generation more than counterbalances. the slight escape of gas through the needle valve 43.

,VVhat I claim is :1 V

1. A switch constructionwhich comprises a movable switch arm having a contact piece thereon, a fixed switch plate having a horizontal flange at its upper end to engage with said contact piece, a spring plate electrically connected to the fixed switch plate, the upper end of the spring plate extending above the flange on the fixed switch plate and normally adapted to'bear against the edge thereof, the upper end of the spring plate being flared outwardly, said contact piece adapted to engage the upper end of the spring plate, to move it away from the fixed switch plate as the contact piece engages the flange on the fixed switch plate, the contact piece and the spring plate forming a wiping contact to reduce arcing after the contact piece has separated from the horizontal flange on the switch plate.

2. A switch construction which comprises a vertical movable switch arm having a contact piece thereon, a vertically disposed fixed switch plate having a horizontal flange at its upper end adapted to be engaged by said contact piece, a vertically disposed spring plate electrically connected to the fixed switch plate, the upper end of the spring plate extending upwardly beyond the flange on the fixed switch plate and bearing against the edge thereof, the upper end of the spring plate being flanged outwardly, the spring plate adapted to be moved out of contact with said flange and as the'contact piece descends to make contact with said flange, the engagement between the contact piece and the spring vplate being maintained to form a wiping contact to reduce arcing after the separation of the flange and the contact piece.

JOHN N. HANNA. 

